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Western Force Coach John Mitchell has lamented an out of character lackluster defensive effort from his squad in a 21 point defeat at the hands of the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland.
Gunning for a third consecutive win the Force started strongly and had an outstanding opportunity to cross for first try of the game when Ryan Cross crashed through the line however the visitors couldn’t make the final pass and the chance went begging.
The usually reliable boot of young star James O’Connor was awry in the slippery conditions, one shot cannoning off the upright while the teenager could manage just one penalty goal from his opening three attempts.
Needing a win to keep their finals hopes alive the Blues found their groove with winger Joe Rokocoko doing the majority of the damage with two of the New Zealander’s three first half tries.
“We should have got better conversion out of our start,” Mitchell said following the match.
“We missed a penalty and a turnover try and from that point onwards we were very passive defensively and we suffered as a result.
“The Blues deserved to win. They retained a lot of ball and built a lot of pressure,” Mitchell added.
Rokocoko’s first try coming as he gleefully accepted a long cut-out pass from Luke McAlister and slid over in the corner to finish a multi-phase movement. His second followed less than ten minutes later, this time taking an inside ball from Stephen Brett after another series of quality attacking play. McAlister this time converting to give the Blues a 12-3 lead.
With their tails up, the Blues struck again on the half hour mark when tighthead prop John Afoa fed loosehead Tony Woodcock who barged over under the posts.
The Force had several minutes inside the Blues’ 22 late in the half and gave up several kickable penalties to go for a five-pointer, however solid defence from the Blues kept the WA side at bay and the score remained 19-3 at the break.
Five tries were scored in the second half but unfortunately for the Force they were only able to conjure up two of those in the dying minutes as they clawed back some respectability on the scoreboard.
The Blues secured a four-try bonus point not long after the break when scrumhalf Alby Mathewson took a quick tap and raced 25 metres to score while Rokocoko completed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute from another Brett pass.
Rudi Wulf extended the lead as he dragged several Force defenders over the line with him after a nicely worked set play from the lineout.
The Force never gave up and finished strongly to score the final two tries of the game. Vice Captain David Pocock maintaining his impressive work rate to break through several tacklers and cross from ten metres out following some nice work by skipper Nathan Sharpe in the lineout.
Moments later the visitors were hard on attack again, with Nic Henderson, Sam Harris, O’Connor and David Hill setting up good field position. Trying to quickly clear the ruck Justin Turner’s pass hit an offside Stephen Brett and referee Keith Brown awarded the penalty try. O’Connor’s second conversion made the score 38-17 as the final whistle sounded.
"We started well and had them under pressure but failed to convert that pressure into point and then we went away from our game plan,” Sharpe said.
“We gave the Blues open field space to kick return and we know that is when they’re the most dangerous.
“They scored a couple of quick tries and from there we were chasing the game,” said Sharpe.
The Emirates Western Force now return to Perth to host the Crusaders at ME Bank Stadium on Friday 23 April in the team’s final home game of the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14.
By The Clock
9th min: Penalty Goal kicked by James O’Connor. Force lead 3-0
18th min: Try to the Blues scored by Joe Rokocoko. Not converted. Blues lead 5-3.
26th min: Try to the Blues scored by Rokocoko. Converted by McAlister. Blues lead 12-3.
30th min: Try to the Blues scored by Tony Woodcock. Converted by McAlister. Blues lead 19-3.
HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 3 Blues 19
47th min: Try to the Blues scored by Alby Mathewson. Not converted. Blues lead 24-3.
48th min: Justin Turner and Sam Harris replace Chris O’Young and Ryan Cross.
52nd min: Try to the Blues scored by Rokocoko. Converted by McAlister. Blues lead 31-3.
54th min: Ben McCalman replaces Tom Hockings, Matt Dunning replaces Nic Henderson.
66th min: Nick Cummins replaces Mark Bartholomeusz.
68th min: Try to the Blues scored by Rudi Wulf. Converted by McAlister. Blues lead 38-3.
69th min: Henderson replaces Dunning (ankle injury).
71st min: Ben Whittaker replaces Nathan Charles.
78th min: Try to the Force scored by David Pocock. Converted by O’Connor. Blues lead 38-10.
80th min: Penalty try to the Force. Converted by O’Connor. Blues lead 38-17.
FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 17 Blues 38
Emirates Western Force 17 (Pocock try, Penalty try; O’Connor 2/2 con, 1/3 pens)
Blues 38 (Rokocoko 3, Woodcock, Mathewson, Wulf tries; McAlister 4/6 con, 0/1 pen)
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